Michael Gianaris's News items

NCPR News reported on Governor Cuomo's stance on not supporting district lines drawn by joint legislation commision, because they are not independent and nonpartisan. Senator Gianaris spoke with Karen Dewitt, praises Cuomo's unwavering position on the issue of redistricting and the need for a fairer process.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is stating in no uncertain terms that he intends to veto the redistricting lines now being devised by a joint legislative commission, because they are not independent and nonpartisan.

The New York Times recently wrote an excellent piece on the the risks of gerrymandering and the rising legislation surrounding redistricting that calls for a more fair process that doesn't take partisan gerrymandering too far or ignore minority voters. Senator Gianaris' strong advocacy for independent redistricting reform is further supported in these arguments.

The Queens Chronicle wrote on elected officials' success in allowing for the Grand Station post office in Astoria to remain open. Senator Gianaris, after hearing many concerned residents' reactions to the proposed closing of the post office, joined forces with Congresswoman Maloney, Assemblywoman Simotas, and Councilman Vallone to keep this important service open for all residents.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan and Queens), state Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria), Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) and a representative of Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) announced Wednesday that the Grand Station post office in Astoria will not be closed.

Times Ledger wrote on the recent proposition to expand an applied sciences campus to Roosevelt Island. Senator Gianaris advocated for the project, while stating that Roosevelt Island provides the resources like easy transportation for students, while at the same time the project will bring forth a new side of the thriving Western Queens community.

U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria), other Queens elected officials and Long Island City business groups threw their support Monday behind Roosevelt Island becoming the new site for an applied sciences and engineering university in the city.

Sunnyside Post wrote on the latest string of groping incidents Sunnyside and Woodside. Senator Gianaris has been working to inform the community about this danger by speaking at press conferences and passing out flyers on ways to stay protected on the streets.

Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer held a press conference on 46th Street and Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside today to alert the public and aggressively search for a perpetrator who has been groping women, and one 12-year-old girl in the Sunnyside/Woodside neighborhoods of Queens.[...]

The Times Ledger reported on the series of groping incidents in Western Queens. Senator Gianaris, in addition to his legislation that makes groping children a felony, has been advocating for community involvement for safer streets.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) and Sunnyside electeds passed out fliers near the No. 7 train 46th Street-Bliss Street station early Monday morning, warning commuters of a groper in the area who has attacked five women and a 12-year-old girl.

The Queens Gazette reported on AT&T's expansion of free access to their Wi-Fi service in several new parks in New York, including Astoria Park. Senator Gianaris is thrilled that many Western Queens resident will be able to have such access from Astoria Park, as we continue to stay connected in this digital age.

Senator Gianaris attended a press conference to promote the expansion of an applied science campus to Roosevelt Island with Congresswoman Maloney and David Brause. The Queens Gazette wrote on some of the reasons for the Senator's support, such as in addition to the promotion of higher education, the general further development of the Western Queens community.

The Queens Gazette wrote about the series of groping incidents that have taken place in Queens recently. Senator Gianaris, whose legislation makes groping a child a felony, warns the community against such dangers.

Queens Gazette wrote about the agreement that was reached to rebuild St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

The announcement of the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church near the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, which was destroyed on 9/11 was greeted warmly by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Congressmember Joseph Crowley (D–Queens/The Bronx), state Senator Michael Gianaris (D–Astoria) and Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. (D–Astoria.

NY1 reported on the proposal to include new applied sciences and engineering campuses for Cornell and Stanford University on Randall's Island. The decision will be made in two weeks time. Senator Gianaris supports these endeavors because it will bring further means of economic development to Queens.

The New York Daily News wrote about the recent press conference promoting the use of Roosevelt Island for an applied sciences and engineering program for Cornell and Stanford University. Along with Congresswoman Maloney, Senator Gianaris extended his support for the project as it would provide economic stimulation to the area.

Building a hi-tech campus on Roosevelt Island would be a major boon for Queens, elected officials and business leaders said Monday, as two top schools threw their support behind the location.

[...]

State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) said the project would help the city "diversify its economy beyond Wall Street and the financial services sector. This type of high-tech initiative is exactly the way we need to go."

The Queens Courier reported on the recent attacks on several Queens women. Senator Gianaris was present at the public conference to alert the community about the recent attackers. The senator's bill requiring the act of groping to be counted as a felony is just one way to attempt to reduce such dangers to our community.

For the past month, women in Sunnyside and Woodside have been looking over their shoulders for a predator on pedals.

With incidents of sexual assault rising across the five boroughs, the neighboring communities are the most recent areas to experience repeated sexual attacks on women.

New York Observer wrote about the recent launching of an online initiative to clear up congestion on the streets due to construction. It is called Street Works Manual, and Senator Gianaris supports the way in which this project will assist in better cooperation between construction companies to reduce the number of inconveniences due to construction.

NY1 reported on the recent attacks on Queens women. Senator Gianaris attended the press conference to speak out against Sunnyside/Woodside sexual predators. He also handed out flyers to raise awareness about these issues and inform people on how to act when they find themselves in such dangerous situations.

Police were searching Monday for a man they said tried to sexually assault a 23-year-old woman in Queens the previous night.

[...]

On Wednesday night, police say a man assaulted a 23-year-old woman in Laurelton.

Police were also looking for another man in a string of attacks around Woodside and Sunnyside.

CarrollGardensPatch wrote about a new digital program called Street Works Manual which aims to lower the impact of construction on our roads through better coordination between utility and private construction companies. Senator Gianaris was present at the announcement of this project along with Major Bloomberg and other elected officials, in hopes of reducing traffic and giving resurfacing project a longer lifespan.

Today, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan announced a new digital program that hopes to reduce the impact of construction on city roads by better coordinating utility and private construction company work.

The New York Daily News wrote about Greek American politicians' efforts to rebuild lower Mahattan's St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which was demolished in the 9/11 Twin Tower attacks. Senator Gianaris is taking part in these efforts to provide a place of religious freedom for Greek Americans and New Yorkers alike.

Gov. Cuomo today announced that he, Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward, representatives of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and St. Nicholas Parish and State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, "signed the agreement that permits the rebuilding of the Church with a nondenominational bereavement center at the east end of Liberty Park, at 130 Liberty Street."

Times Ledger wrote on the positive impact of the recently improved Vernon Blvd. dog run, as dogs took advantage of the wider space and new features. Senator Gianaris was present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Mere weeks after announcing the dog run on Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City would be renovated, local legislators and their four-legged constituents cut the ribbon on the expanded park last Thursday.

“It’s a beautiful day for people but it’s an even more beautiful day for the dogs of this neighborhood today,” said state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria).

OurLic News provided many great photos from the renovated Vernon Blvd. Dog Run ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place on October 6.

Thanks to NYS, NYC, Queens West Development Corporation, and others, this dog friendly community now has a large and well designed dog run at the corner of Vernon Blvd and 48th Ave. The space replaces the dog run on 2nd Avenue that was taken by the city for the new high school and construction of affordable housing.

Some have estimated that over 1,000 dogs live in Long Island City.

On October 6th, the red ribbon was cut at an appropriate ceremony led by NYS Senator Michael Gianaris. As the OurLIC Video NEWS reveals, all elected officials representing Long Island City are true pet lovers.